Only 24 hours before the US launches its space shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center, a dedication ceremony was held in order to rename the Ben-Gurion Airport air traffic control tower in honor of Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, who died in the Columbia space shuttle disaster on February 1, 2003. Ramon’s wife, Rona, and other family members were present at the ceremony. The Discovery will be the first shuttle back into since the Columbia disaster.